Brain Awareness Week 2008

This year marked the 13th annual Brain Awareness Week (BAW), an international campaign of educational events designed to increase public awareness about the wonders of the brain and nervous system. Held March 10–16, 2008, the BAW campaign is a partnership between the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives (DABI), which founded BAW. It aims to focus national and international attention on the progress in and benefits of neuroscience research, and to help people of all ages and backgrounds understand more about the “universe between their ears.”

BAW is comprised of a coalition of more than 1,200 science, advocacy, and other health organizations that coordinate educational events emphasizing the importance of basic neuroscience research to public health and well-being of the public.

“Brain Awareness Week is an exciting time to reach out to the public and particularly to children, promoting increased understanding of the nervous system. Neuroscientists across the country and around the world join in this effort, in a global collaboration,” explains Nicholas Spitzer of the University of California, San Diego and chair of SfN’s Public Education and Communication Committee.

In Washington, DC, where SfN is headquartered, the Society joined a collaborative effort with DABI and other partners at the National Museum of Health and Medicine to assist with a week’s worth of educational activities on the campus of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center for 800 students from the DC Metro area. SfN President Eve Marder led a March 11 session for an audience of middle school students and their teachers.

The Society also supported the Washington, DC Brain Bee on February 6 that drew 20 students from 12 Maryland and DC schools who participated in the fifth annual Brain Bee, hosted and organized by the Dana Center. The competition was judged by Benjamin R. Walker, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Georgetown University. Elena Perry, the Washington, DC Brain Bee winner, went on to compete in and win the National Brain Bee Competition in Baltimore, MD.

Highlights of BAW events follow—spanning North American and international participation in New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, and Australia.

NEW JERSEY
Robert Sekuler, SfN member and professor at Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, took the leap this year into the Brain Awareness Campaign by agreeing to visit his grandson’s elementary school in Livingston, New Jersey. “If I survive this experience,” Sekuler promised as he contacted SfN headquarters for assistance, “next year I’ll sign up for SfN’s Neuroscientist-Teacher Partner Program.” Armed with a Brain Facts book and Neuroscience Education Resources CD-ROM for the teacher, Sekuler triumphed in engaging 75 fourth-graders. Sekuler reports it was a terrific first experience—from the students’ enthusiasm and questions to the positive reception of Brain Awareness Week from the teachers and principal. “Thanks to the brain, the kids were mesmerized for nearly an hour. If only all our undergraduate students were as attentive and interactive as these fourth-graders,” said Sekuler.

CALIFORNIA
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) student group Project Brainstorm, sponsored by the UCLA Brain Research Institute and Graduate Students Association (GSA), held BAW events March 10–13. This year, almost 400 elementary through high school students visited UCLA during BAW. Over 50 graduate and undergraduate students and faculty volunteered for the events. In addition, for the first time, funding was received from the GSA community service program to assist schools that might otherwise not be able to afford the trip to UCLA.

Of the many events, the four-hour daily visits included interactive neuroscience activities and lab tours. Brain demonstrations were the most popular aspect of the program: groups of 7–10 students rotated around five stations and graduate students answered questions about the UCLA collection of human and animal brains.
The lab tours were in keeping with the theme of UCLA Neuroscience—“from molecules to behavior”—with students attending a variety of labs. Interactive events included age-appropriate presentations on topics including brain injury, sensation, and lobe functions.

MASSACHUSETTS
The Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute (BNRI) in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Massachusetts Medical School participated in BAW this year by sponsoring the Central
Massachusetts Brain Bee. BNRI also offers year-round brain awareness educational services to the Worcester community regarding mental health conditions, neurological disorders, addiction, and substance abuse. “We reach out to the public whose tax dollars support investigations into science and whose votes will elect members of legislatures who vote on funding for neuroscience research,” says
SfN member Joanne S. Treistman at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

On April 5, 2008, BNRI was part of the 15th annual Teddy Bear Clinic, a health fair focused on children, at a local area mall. The BNRI booth included hands-on activities for children and brain information for parents. BNRI receives educational materials from DABI’s Lending Library program.

The Brain Education Center at BNRI sees its mission as growing the new generation of neuroscientists, as well as educating the public about what neuroscience contributes to society. It provides leadership
and resources to facilitate the work of partners promoting education about human brain function in relation to mental health conditions, neurological disorders, harm prevention, addiction, and
substance abuse.

WISCONSIN
In a joint effort, the SfN Wisconsin chapter and the Neuroscience Training Program at University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison strive to take advantage of existing resources and programs to keep their outreach programs—including BAW—low-cost and relatively low-effort on the part of staff and faculty. This year, the program continued its outreach to the Madison community.

During the month of April, the program participated in UW-Madison’s Science Expeditions by hosting an exploration station. The program, staffed by volunteer faculty members and undergraduate and graduate students, was also at the Madison Children’s Museum doing hands-on neuroscience activities with the young and old. “We reached a total of approximately 2,000 people. All this costs only $400 in supply money, plus 40 hours or so in organization time, plus 48–60 hours of volunteers,” explains Heather Daniels, assistant director of graduate studies in the Neuroscience Training Program at UW-Madison.

MEXICO
The SfN Mexico City chapter held its fourth BAW — Las Emociones y Tu Cerebro (Emotions and Your Brain)—at the Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, in Querétaro, Mexico. Professors and doctors from the General Hospital of Public Health offered a series of informal talks on topics such as autism, depression, hyperactivity, pain, laughter, and emotion. The talks were organized by SfN member Teresa Morales and held at the public library in downtown Querétaro, drawing community members and engaging them in question-and-answer sessions.

Neurobiologists, postgraduate students, and technicians were involved in public outreach to area children. Elementary schools were invited to visit the INB for lab tours, crafts, games, and exhibits.

CANADA
The SfN Halifax chapter supported BAW through events with Dalhousie University and the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History in Halifax. In keeping with the museum’s polar theme, a “Cool Brains” exhibit was featured March 10–14. The exhibit included a brain model that can be disassembled and an ever-popular Build-a-Neuron interactive game. The event was well-attended by more than 2,000 elementary and middle school children who visited the museum with their parents. Graduate students from the Dalhousie University neuroscience program helped run the exhibit.

Dalhousie University also held two public lectures, following this year’s theme of “successfully living with brain injury/disease.” A clinical neuropsychologist spoke one evening and the other evening featured a panel of health care professionals who presented “Living with Brain Trauma/Disease: Progressive Therapeutic Approaches.” Each gave a short overview of how they help people who live with brain injury or disease and then the floor was opened to the audience for discussion.

TURKEY
The BAW campaign in Eskisehir, Turkey, was first launched 10 years ago. Since that time, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University (ESOGU) neuroscientists and students have volunteered in more than 150 events.

“I think that it is the social responsibility of a neuroscientist to educate the public to increase knowledge and understanding of the brain and nervous system,” says SfN member Ferhan Esen at ESOGU. “And every neuroscientist must take a responsibility at least in one outreach activity in BAW.” Esen translated the Brain Facts book into Turkish last year.

BAW activity in Eskisehir continues to evolve. Events this year included activities for preschool-aged children, elementary school classroom visits, and conferences for the general public, as well as the first-ever local Brain Bee.

AUSTRALIA
Another example of an SfN chapter serving as a resource to their community can be found in Australia, where the Brisbane chapter supports BAW as a year-round event centered around the Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC). ABBC 2008 consists of three rounds of challenges, beginning with the round one multiple-choice quiz with questions based on the SfN Brain Facts book. Round one was held in all registered Australian and New Zealand schools on March 12, 2008 during BAW. A record 9,406 students registered this year, representing all states and territories of Australia, and Auckland and Otago in New Zealand—more than a ten-fold increase in registrations from 2007.

“Brain Awareness Week is a wonderful initiative, held worldwide, that has become a common thread between neuroscientists across the globe,” says SfN member Linda Richards at the University of Queensland in Australia. “This includes dispelling myths and misconceptions that the public may have about brain function, mental health and neurological disorders. It is a time when we can involve the public in what we do and show them how science can improve their lives.”

YEAR-ROUND PUBLIC OUTREACH RESOURCES
Neuroscientist-Teacher Partner Program
If you are a neuroscientist or completing graduate studies in neuroscience and would like to interact with teachers and students in K-12 classrooms, your expertise is needed to share knowledge and raise interest in the nervous system.

Join the program to establish a partnership with a K-12 educator. You can host a laboratory tour, visit a classroom, or serve as a neuroscience curriculum advisor.

Neuroscientists interested in joining the program are invited to submit contact information on the SfN Web site: www.sfn.org/ntp.

Neuroscience Resources for the K-12 Classroom CD-ROM
Obtain a free copy of this new CD-ROM, which serves as a gateway to educational resources on the Web. Write to education@sfn.org for a complimentary copy.

Brain Awareness Campaign
The Brain Awareness Campaign is a year-round activity. To access tips for organizing an event, gather resources for participants, and see what others have done in the past, visit www.sfn.org/baw.

CHAPTER RESOURCES
Chapters are a critical component of the Society’s ability to engage individuals in the field of neuroscience both nationally and internationally. Chapter involvement provides opportunities for networking and information sharing, as well as funding for lectures, travel, and other neuroscience initiatives.

In addition to playing an integral role in Brain Awareness Week, chapter opportunities include:

Chapter Grants
The Society offers chapters the opportunity to apply for funding up to $2,000. This grant is designed to help new chapters succeed in their local missions, promote the goals of the SfN strategic plan, and support innovative chapter initiatives.

Next Generation Awards
Each year, the Society recognizes chapter members who have made outstanding contributions to public outreach and science education. Awards are made at the pre/postdoctoral and junior faculty levels.

Travel Awards
Assists graduate students and postdocs nominated by their local chapters with attending the SfN annual meeting.

For more information, visit www.sfn.org/chapters or e-mail chapters@sfn.org.

Mark Your Calendar for Next Year!
March 16–22, 2009
Visit www.sfn.org/baw for details.